trek domane 2016 peso

• Help Center
• Chat with a Ride Guide
• 1-866-401-9636
• Retail Store
• Bike Services

Reset Password

We will send you an email to reset your password.

Don't have an account? Create an account

Create Account

Already have an account? Sign In

• Favorite your products & save them to your account
• Save a search & get notified when new products drop
• Be first to know about the latest events & promotions

Bike Finder

Results have arrived, used bike buyers guide: trek domane model history.

The Trek Domane is an endurance road bike that can do it all — road race, commute, super-long rides, and even light gravel. Trek designed the bike frame's IsoSpeed Decoupler system to offer enough compliance for comfort, while maintaining pedaling efficiency. Here's your guide to the Domane line.

Written by: Micah Ling

Published on: Jun 8, 2021

Posted in: Guides

The Trek Domane is a classic example of an endurance road bike : It can do it all. You can hop in a road race with it, commute on it, take it for your long ride, and even venture onto gravel with it. Endurance road bikes are built to perform, but also to be comfortable.

What Trek Domane is right for you?

History of the Domane

The first-generation Trek Domane. 2016-2019 Domane -Addition of a front IsoSpeed decoupler to decouple the steerer tube from the head tube and further reduce vibrations -New slider introduced on Domane SLR models that allows riders to adjust the level of damping offered by the rear IsoSpeed -Disc version allows 32mm tire clearance 2020+ Domane -More aerodynamic frame -Even more tire clearance added, up to 38mm -Hidden Storage compartment in the down tube

The latest Domane design packs in aero, comfort, and storage features.

Different builds

Here are a few of our favorite Domane builds from Trek that we’ve seen at TPC.

Trek Domane 5.2 Compact Road Bike - 2013

Trek designed the Domane to absorb bumps but also sustain speed. Its IsoSpeed decoupler improves comfort without sacrificing power transfer. This system separates the seat tube from the top tube so that it can flex freely. The compliance helps the bike isolate the rider from bumps and vibration. At the front, Trek designed an IsoSpeed fork that used more rake and a reversed dropout. A carbon IsoZone handlebar featured closed-cell foam pads in the top and drops of the handlebar, to mute the jarring of cobbled roads.

Trek Domane 5.9 Road Bike - 2016

Trek Domane SLR 6 Disc Road Bike - 2017

To further improve vibration reduction, an IsoCore handlebar was added. It includes a layer of rubber inside the carbon fiber. Tire clearance gets bumped up from 25mm to 28mm on the rim brake version, and 32mm on the disc brake model. On high-end models like the SLR 8, there’s also an upgrade to electronic shifting and a removable panel in the down tube for the Shimano Di2 battery.

Domane SL5 - 2020

With the newest models of the Domane, the top tube IsoSpeed on high-end SLR models has been improved. It is tunable and offers a finer balance between stiffness and comfort. It uses a repositioned slider under the top tube and an additional elastomer integrated into the design to offer more damping (SL models retain the original non-adjustable IsoSpeed system). The tube shapes have all been tweaked, borrowing technology from Trek’s more race focused road bikes to improve aerodynamics. The new Domane offers more tire clearance and can fit up to 38mm tires. The Hidden Storage compartment in the down tube provides a discrete space on the bike to store spare tubes, tools, and snacks.

If you’re looking for a versatile bike, the smooth ride, predictable handling, and upright riding position make the Domane perfect for both a new cyclist looking to push their mileage, and a seasoned racer, interested in rougher roads. The IsoSpeed technology reduces muscle fatigue and joint stress by absorbing vibrations from varied terrain, making it ideal for someone who truly wants to explore. Generally, if you want disc brakes, look at 2015 models and newer. Trek offered the Domane with rim brakes from 2013 to 2019. From 2020 onward, the new generation Domane will only be available with disc brakes. If you want electronic shifting , look for 2017 and newer. And if you want clearance for tires as wide as 38mm, or aero features, look at the 2020 and 2021 models.

SHOP TREK ROAD BIKES   |  SHOP TREK BIKES

More Guides

Features, Gravel, Guides, Latest Apr 10, 2024

The Best Gravel Bike Comfort Upgrades for Unbound (and Beyond)

FAQs, Guides, Latest, MTB Apr 3, 2024

FAQ: Top 5 Mountain Bikes That Hold Their Value

Features, Gravel, Guides, Latest Apr 1, 2024

Waxing Your Chain vs. Using Wet Lube for Dust, Mud, & Unbound Gravel

Guides Mar 26, 2024

Shimano vs. SRAM: Guide to Groupsets, Drivetrains, Brakes, and More

Features, Gravel, Guides, Latest Mar 25, 2024

1x vs. 2x: What Drivetrain Should You Race at Unbound Gravel?

Features, Gravel, Guides, Latest Mar 21, 2024

Choosing The Best Tire Setup for Racing Unbound Gravel

FAQs, Guides Mar 18, 2024

The Best Used Bike Marketplaces Online (& Offline Too) in 2024

FAQs, Guides, Latest, Road Mar 14, 2024

FAQ: The Roval Alpinist CL II vs. Roval Rapide CL II

Guides, Latest, Road, Tech Feb 23, 2024

The Best Affordable Carbon Road Wheels for Budget Racers

Features, Guides, Latest Feb 20, 2024

QUOC Shoe Review & Guide: Simple, Stylish, & Refined Cycling Shoes

Guides, Latest Jan 29, 2024

The Ultimate New & Used E-Bike Buyer’s Guide

Guides, Latest, Tech Jan 19, 2024

Road, Gravel & Mountain Bike Tire Pressure: Beginner's Guide w/PSI Chart

New arrivals.

Certified Pre-Owned

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Carbon Disc 105 Road Bike - 2021, 54cm

Bossi Bicycles Strada Ti Road Bike - 56cm

Pivot Trail 429 Pro XT/XTR Mountain Bike - 2020, Medium

Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon Gravel Bike - 2021, 58cm

BMC Roadmachine SEVEN Road Bike - 2022, 56cm

Salsa Cycles Warbird Gravel Bike - 2019, 59cm

Specialized Tarmac SL6 Sport Road Bike - 2021, 54cm

Felt IA Advanced 105 Triathlon Bike - 2023, 56cm

Specialized Epic EVO Comp Mountain Bike - 2021, X-Large

Trek Madone 9.5 H2 Road Bike - 2018, 54cm

Ritchey Swiss Cross Cyclocross Bike - Large

Santa Cruz Blur CC XX1 RSV Mountain Bike - 2022, X-Large

• off.road.cc
• Dealclincher
• Fantasy Cycling

Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

• Sportive and endurance bikes
• Gravel and adventure bikes
• Urban and hybrid bikes
• Touring bikes
• Cyclocross bikes
• Electric bikes
• Folding bikes
• Fixed & singlespeed bikes
• Children's bikes
• Time trial bikes
• Accessories - misc
• Computer mounts
• Bike bags & cases
• Bottle cages
• Child seats
• Lights - front
• Lights - rear
• Lights - sets
• Pumps & CO2 inflators
• Puncture kits
• Reflectives
• Smart watches
• Stands and racks
• Arm & leg warmers
• Base layers
• Gloves - full finger
• Gloves - mitts
• Jerseys - casual
• Jerseys - long sleeve
• Jerseys - short sleeve
• Shorts & 3/4s
• Tights & longs
• Bar tape & grips
• Bottom brackets
• Brake & gear cables
• Brake & STI levers
• Brake pads & spares
• Cassettes & freewheels
• Chainsets & chainrings
• Derailleurs - front
• Derailleurs - rear
• Gear levers & shifters
• Handlebars & extensions
• Inner tubes
• Quick releases & skewers
• Energy & recovery bars
• Energy & recovery drinks
• Energy & recovery gels
• Heart rate monitors
• Hydration products
• Hydration systems
• Indoor trainers
• Power measurement
• Skincare & embrocation
• Training - misc
• Cleaning products
• Lubrication
• Tools - multitools
• Tools - Portable
• Tools - workshop
• Books, Maps & DVDs
• Camping and outdoor equipment
• Gifts & misc

The headline news with the new Domane SLR is a two-pronged approach aimed at delivering front end compliance that bettmmer matches the rear IsoSpeed decoupler, a novel development in the original bike that provides a range of comfort-boosting deflection. A common complaint with the original Domane centred around the front end feeling much stiffer than the compliant rear end.

To solve this, Trek has integrated an IsoSpeed decoupler into the head tube, allowing a specially shaped carbon fibre steerer tube to bend slightly between the two headset bearings. We're only talking a very small amount of deflection, with rider weight and stem length being a factor in the bending range. Trek has also developed the new IsoCore handlebar. Within the carbon fibre layup is a layer of rubber that allows the handlebar to dissipate some of the high-frequency vibrations.

This combination works well, providing much improved – and needed – front end compliance. The bike feels much more balanced and forgiving at the front when tackling cobbles or badly surfaced roads.

The other big news is the new adjustable rear IsoSpeed decoupler, which now employs a split seat tube design, first seen on the Madone aero road bike. On the old Domane, the entire seat tube was independent of the top tube, with its movement controlled by the IsoSpeed decoupler. In the new design, the front section of the split tube is attached at the top tube like a regular seat tube, which creates a stiffer frame, with only the rear section independent. The amount of deflection is also adjustable – loosen a single bolt (which shares duty as a bottle cage bolt) and slide the dividing lever into the desired position, with the lowest setting offering a claimed 14 per cent increase in compliance over the previous Domane, while in its firmest setting it mimics the Emonda.

But it's not all about twice the number of IsoSpeed decouplers and a rubber-infused carbon handlebar. Trek has increased tyre clearance so that the new bike now ships with 28mm tyres, and there's probably space for slightly wider tyres. Unfortunately, the supplied Bontrager tyres aren't tubeless, unlike the Bontrager wheels, but the tyres inflated to 65psi provide a huge cushioning effect with plenty of traction in the dry and wet, and are robust enough to deal with cobbles.

Ride and performance: The cobble factor

Trek launched the new Domane SLR in Kortrijk, Belgium, the day after the Tour of Flanders, and provided the assembled press with an opportunity to ride the bike over the same roads and cobbles used in that race. The Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg and Koppenberg provided an ideal circuit to put the new bike through its paces. I was rather spoilt in riding a Race Shop Limited (RSL) version with Pro Endurance Geometry (which you can buy through Trek's Project One custom bike programme), with the defining feature being the short head tube, and a smattering of top-end Shimano Dura-Ace and Bontrager Aeolus carbon fibre wheels, which all helped to provide a good impression. Regardless of the flash kit, it was clear on the cobbled sectors that Trek had succeeded in producing a bike that provides a smoother ride.

Following that launch, I was sent this Domane SLR 6, the base model in the range, equipped with Ultegra components and aluminium Bontrager wheels for review. A key difference with this bike is the H2 geometry, which basically means it has a taller head tube than the RSL bike I rode at the launch. It does make it more suitable for the vast majority of people looking to buy a Domane SLR, especially if you lack the flexibility that comes from spending 50-80 hours a week hunched over a keyboard.

Where better to test the new bike than the Paris-Roubaix Challenge? The 175km route takes in all 52 cobbled sections used by the professionals in the race the following day, and provides a tough challenge for any bike. After the first few cobbled sections had disappeared under the tyres, it was clear the work that Trek had put into this new bike had paid off; it showed a marked improvement over the previous model in terms of outright smoothness and comfort and a more rounded ride quality everywhere else.

The new Domane SLR feels stable and composed when rattling along the crown of a cobbled road, the vibrations less intrusive. The ride is just calmer. Bigger impacts, such as those on the Arenberg, can still send a jolt through the handlebar – there's a limit to how much the small range of deflection can really cope with bigger impacts – but it is on high-frequency vibrations caused by cracks in the road, ridges, depressions and smoother cobbles that the IsoSpeed decouplers, bigger tyres and carbon handlebar really make an appreciable difference and the Domane SLR excels.

I actually rode this same event a number of years ago on the previous Domane, and it's clear comparing the new bike with the old one that the changes have netted a substantial difference. Most noticeable is how much smoother the front end is, with better cohesion between the front and rear stiffness. The front is still firm, but the difference has been massively reduced and the result is a much more balanced feeling bike.

I've done Paris-Roubaix a few times and ridden the cobbles on quite a few different bikes, but I've never felt quite as fresh as I have after riding the new Domane SLR. Sure, I was still battered and I swore never to do it again, but I was in a better state than those around me. The measure of deflection might be small, but it's enough to make the going that little bit easier over such rough roads.

On familiar roads...

While the cobbles are a tough test for any bike, a truer test of the bike is revealed on local roads. No cobbles but plenty of poorly surfaced roads, the top layer of tarmac peeled away, surface dressed gravel and plenty of holes to contend with. It's on this sort of road that the Domane SLR comes into its own. It damps the vibrations and manages to isolate you just enough from the most severe bumps and dips, providing a floaty feeling without completely detaching you from what is happening under the tyres.

It's really quite wonderful how the bike smooths out a rough road, a feeling highlighted when I switch back to a carbon race bike with narrower tyres. Yet the Domane SLR doesn't feel baggy or loose, it's still direct and responsive if you like to ride hard and expect the bike to deliver the sort of performance that a race-bred carbon bike should. There's no flex when you sprint out of the saddle and it's direct and sensitive to small changes of weight balance or rider input.

It's uncanny how well the IsoSpeed works. Look down between your legs and, in the softest setting, you can see the seatpost moving back and forth. You don't notice the saddle movement when you're riding, you just notice the smoothness. I've experimented with the rear IsoSpeed decoupler in different positions. In its firmest setting, it's in the same ballpark as the Madone, and the ride feels crisp and alert. In its lowest setting, it sweeps rough roads aside, while the middle setting is equivalent to the previous Domane.

You can easily leave the slider at its lowest setting and make the most of the available deflection because it's sufficiently well controlled that it doesn't spoil the ride if you're enjoying some buttery smooth tarmac. It's not exactly bouncing up and down. The adjustability means you can alter the available deflection to suit the demands of your local roads and also your weight as well.

It's not all about the comfort...

Comfort aside, the Domane SLR is a really engaging and fun bike to ride. The boosted compliance hasn't softened the Domane's reflexes. It's a nimble bike, with the 7.6kg weight ensuring it can dance up the climbs with the best of them. In RSL guise, it would certainly be a good UK race bike.

The new split seat tube design provides a stiffer frame and it feels it when riding. Any concerns that the front end might be soft and vague vanish as soon as you get out the saddle and give it the beans, or climb aggressively up a very steep hill. It's solid and there's no unwanted flex. You can occasionally detect a hint of flex from the handlebar when in the drops but it's not detrimental to the performance of the bike.

While the rear IsoSpeed only works when you're seated, the front IsoSpeed decoupler and IsoCore handlebar make a noticeable difference all of the time, even if you're out of the saddle. Round my way there are some quite fast descents with really bumpy surfaces, the sort you might ride out of the saddle, and one in particular that is just horrible, with a rippled surface, holes everywhere, poor visibility due to steep banks and bends in the road, and a tricky right hander at the bottom. On a very stiff race bike, the ride can be choppy and bouncy as the tyres struggle to follow the surface of the road – it never feels very safe at speed. The Domane SLR, in contrast, feels controlled, safe and tied to the road, and much safer.

Equipment and pricing

There are five models in the Domane SLR range: two disc and three rim brake versions, plus two framesets if you want to build your own. This Domane SLR 6 is the least expensive in the lineup, and for your £3,600 you get most of a Shimano Ultegra groupset with a compact chainset and 11-28 cassette, with Bontrager Speed Stop direct mount brakes.

There's a strong Bontrager theme, as you'd expect, from the IsoCore handlebar to Bontrager Paradigm Comp tubeless-ready wheels. It's a real shame the Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite tyres aren't tubeless. I found the Bontrager Pro stem too short so swapped it for a 13cm stem to achieve my desired fit, likewise the Affinity Elite saddle, which I swapped for a Prologo Scratch.

The same frame is used throughout the range and is constructed from 600 Series OCLV carbon fibre with a host of familiar Trek features including a BB90 bottom bracket, internal cable routing and tapered head tube. Trek's Ride Tuned seat mast slips over the top of the extended seat tube and required a generous amount of carbon paste to prevent it slipping.

To provide the necessary tyre clearance, Trek has adopted the direct mount brake standard first introduced by Shimano, and this bike is fitted with Bontrager's own brake callipers. They're not pretty but they are effective, and while power isn't a match for a Dura-Ace dual-pivot brake, lever feel is nice and consistent.

The frame is DuoTrap S compatible, which allows a sensor to be plugged into the chainstay to transmit, via ANT+ or Bluetooth, speed and cadence data to a suitable computer or smartphone app. An integrated chain catcher is a neat addition, as is the new 'Control Centre', a hole in the down tube covered by a removable cover that is used to hide the junction box if the bike is fitted with Di2.

Like the original Domane, there are mudguard eyelets, making it an ideal candidate for winter riding.

> Check out our buyer's guide to sportive and endurance bikes

As mentioned previously, the Domane tested here uses Trek's H2 geometry, which basically means it's more relaxed and less aggressive than the geometry used by Fabian Cancellara and normal on typical race bikes. If you've read this far, you're probably more interested in the Domane not for racing but for sportives and club runs and leisurely Sunday rides, and don't want to have to fit yourself to a low and stretched race bike.

To put that into context, here are some numbers for the 56cm bike pictured. It has a 374mm reach and 575mm stack (the horizontal and vertical measurements from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube) and a 175mm head tube and a 554mm top tube. Those numbers show that the front is higher and the reach to the handlebar shorter, which means a more comfortable riding position if you're not racing and like to enjoy, not suffer, on your rides.

Endurance bikes usually have a longer wheelbase, to provide extra tyre clearance and provide more ride stability, and at 1010mm the Domane has its wheels stretched out compared with a race bike. Seven frame sizes are available from 50 to 62cm.

The endurance bike category has some interesting contenders, and Trek's solution to providing a bike that deals with the poor state of the roads might seem gimmicky, but it does work – and works well.

The Domane just got even better. It's smoother and more comfortable than the original, and fast and fun as well

road.cc test report

Make and model: Trek Domane SLR 6

Size tested: 56

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

600 Series OCLV Carbon, Front IsoSpeed, Adjustable Rear IsoSpeed, E2, BB90, Power Transfer Construction, hidden mudguard mounts, internal cable routing, 3S chain keeper, DuoTrap S compatible, Ride Tuned seatmast

Trek's IsoSpeed technology smooths even the roughest roads, delivering an efficient and comfortable ride for increased performance and speed. The adjustable rear IsoSpeed allows you to fine-tune your compliance level to suit your ride style and terrain, providing both a stiffer and more compliant ride than the current Domane and a 14% increase in overall compliance when the slider is in the lowest setting.

Trek's Front IsoSpeed technology is a breakthrough in ride-smoothing technology, bringing a new standard of compliance to a bike's front end that increases smoothness and balance so you can ride faster, longer and stronger.

Frame600 Series OCLV Carbon, Front IsoSpeed, Adjustable Rear IsoSpeed, E2, BB90, Power Transfer Construction, hidden mudguard mounts, internal cable routing, 3S chain keeper, DuoTrap S compatible, Ride Tuned seatmast

ForkDomane Full Carbon, E2, direct mount brakes

WheelsBontrager Paradigm Comp Tubeless Ready

TyresBontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite, 120tpi, aramid bead, 700x28c

ShiftersShimano Ultegra, 11-speed

Front derailleurShimano Ultegra, braze-on

Rear derailleurShimano Ultegra

CrankShimano Ultegra, 50/34 (compact)

Bottom bracketBB90

CassetteShimano Ultegra, 11-28, 11-speed

ChainShimano Ultegra

SaddleBontrager Affinity Elite, Ti rails

SeatpostBontrager Ride Tuned carbon seat mast cap, 20mm offset

HandlebarBontrager Pro IsoCore VR-CF, 31.8mm

StemBontrager Pro, 31.8mm, 7 degree

Head setIntegrated, cartridge bearing, sealed, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom

Brake setBontrager Speed Stop, direct mount

Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Domane with IsoSpeed has it all: Blistering speed. Incredible race comfort and stability, even on the punishing pavé of Flanders and Roubaix. Don't endure. Conquer.

Powering over centuries-old cobbles, charging up dizzying climbs, descending on rails to an epic win. That's how Fabian Cancellara rides his Domane. How will you ride yours?

Domane makes the most of every pedal stroke: with incredible power transfer and 30% more lateral stiffness than the competition. No waste, all win.

Smooth IsoSpeed decoupler

Long days and rough roads are no match for IsoSpeed technology. Our innovative decoupler doubles vertical compliance so you ride stronger, longer.

Balanced, race-stable geometry and integrated chain keeper give Domane extraordinary handling and flawless gear shifting on any road, under any load.

Caliper or disc brakes

All the stopping power you need, just the way you want it: smooth all-weather discs, or lightweight calipers.

Frame and fork

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Excellent build quality as you'd expect from Trek.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

600 Series OCLV is used through the range with a BB90 bottom bracket, internal cable routing and tapered head tube.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

The H2 fit is more relaxed with a taller head tube and shorter top tube than the Pro Endurance Geometry used by Fabian Cancellara.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

Once I changed the stem for a longer one, the reach and stack (the horizontal and vertical measurements from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube) were good.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Supremely comfortable, the Domane SLR smooths out rough roads.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

No unwanted flex or squirm when riding aggressively, sprinting or attacking.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

The oversized tube diameters and big bottom bracket ensure it's very direct and efficient.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? Very direct and communicative.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

While all the talk is about the comfort, the handling of the Domane makes it a really enjoyable and easy bike to ride, at pace or steady speeds.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

I didn't get on with the shape of the saddle and the stem was too short, but these are personal changes, you might be just fine with them.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

I'd upgrade to tubeless tyres and make use of the tubeless rims.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

No changes.

The drivetrain

Wheels and tyres

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

I was impressed with the IsoCore handlebar. Trek will be selling this as an aftermarket product and it could be a good upgrade for anyone wanting to inject a bit more comfort into their bike.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? I'd be interested in the RSL version.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

The endurance bike category has some interesting contenders, and Trek's solution to providing a bike that deals with the poor state of the roads might seem gimmicky, but it does work, and it works well. On paper, with an Ultegra groupset, it does look expensive, but there's a lot of tech in the frame that no other bikes offer.

Overall rating: 8 /10

About the tester

Age: 31   Height: 180   Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:    My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years   I ride: Every day   I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mountain biking

Help us to fund our site

We’ve noticed you’re using an ad blocker. If you like road.cc, but you don’t like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99. 

If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.

Help us to bring you the best cycling content

If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes . 

Add new comment

This is a very positive review with no negative points mentioned whatsoever. Why then, has it only been given four stars out of five?

• Log in or register to post comments

Latest Comments

Unfortunately they got away  

Fuck all because I'm not sad enough to go looking.

I like alcohol free beer.  I gave up drinking in 2020 for reasons I'm not going to go into here.  I don't want to get drunk, but I do want to drink...

West Street in Hertford is like that (where the driving car in the distance is is a real pinch point), but in 4 years I think I've only came...

It's always a question - in this case it's the average per capita I think, apparently from the National Travel Survey (NTS) and the Active Lives...

how does the modern bike being nearly 1kg lighter translate into a win for team retro? Bearing in mind the lighter bike has 3 extra sprockets and...

Not sure whether or not to follow your shady ljnk

Different sport but I preferred...

massive batteries duct taped on to a £50 Argos bike, not surprised they're bursting into flames...

The have 2 frames already, there is an Ultegra version with the same pro frame and lower versions (in sram Force I think) with a lower module frame.

Related Reviews

Boardman SLR 8.6

Comfortable, lively ride, an excellent gear range and well-chosen components – one of the best entry-level bikes you can buy

Fara F/Road

Quick, nimble, fun, an impressive ride quality and excellent comfort – and I think it looks stunning

Factor O2 VAM

A master of climbing – but a bike that's also incredible fun and extremely capable everywhere else

Orro Venturi STC SRAM Force eTap Tailor Made 2024

Real world aerodynamics and well-designed geometry create an excellent bike that is fast and easy to ride

Expert road bike reviews and the latest road bike news, features and advice. Find rides & events, training articles and participate in our forums

Trek Domane SLR – first ride review

Trek up the ante with supreme comfort on all-new domane slr.

The Trek Domane may not have been the first endurance bike when it was launched in 2012 but it played a pivotal role in defining the genre of comfort-focused race bikes. Now Trek are back with the Domane SLR and have upped the ante once again. It’s an exceptionally comfortable machine – but one which, in its Pro Endurance geometry, retains the handling and responsiveness of a true race bike.

– Trek launch Domane SLR with front and rear IsoSpeed –

Trek launched the Domane SLR in Kortrijk, Belgium, and we were there to first hear what the Wisconsin-based firm had to say about the bike and then ride it for ourselves. If you missed our launch report from Kortrijk, you can find the full tech story behind the Domane SLR here . However, let’s quickly recap on the Domane SLR’s most important features.

The Domane SLR uses a trio of technologies to improve comfort. The IsoSpeed decoupler on the original Domane used a pivot to isolate the flexing seattube from the toptube but that design has been overhauled on the SLR, which now uses two seattubes: the first extends from the seatmast and is allowed to flex independently of the second, conventional seattube, which joins the downtube and toptube as a traditional seattube would. The flexing tube is essentially a leaf spring design and is anchored to the fixed seattube by by a bolt (the lower water bottle bolt) at the bottom, and a pivot within the IsoSpeed decoupler at the top.

What’s key, however, is that the level of compliance is now adjustable. Loosen that bottle cage bolt with a 4mm Allen key, move the slider (up to increase the firmness of the rear as less of the rear seattube is allowed to flex, and down to increase compliance), and re-tighten the bolt. It’s very simple to do and takes seconds – take a look at the video below from when we changed the setting midway through our test ride.

Trek have also introduced IsoSpeed to the front, in an attempt to overcome criticism that the front of the old Domane felt comparatively harsh, compared to the plush rear. The IsoSpeed was a victim of its own success, in a sense; it was too good. On the Domane SLR, there’s a decoupler within the headtube which allows the fork steerer (which, like the previous Domane, already has an asymmetric design and reversed dropouts to help it to flex) to move fore and aft, while remaining anchored to the headtube to ensure there’s no ill-effect when it comes to handling. There’s also a new handlebar, called IsoCore, which has a layer of rubber buried within the carbon fibre lay-up to help soak up road vibrations before they reach the rider’s hands.

Other features found on the frame include hidden mudguard mounts, an integrated chain catcher, integrated DuoTrap speed/cadence sensor, direct mount brakes and a ‘Control Centre’ to house the battery for electronic drivetrains, cleverly hidden under the water bottle mounts on the downtube.

Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg – and a caveat

Our 85km loop took us over three of the Tour of Flanders’ most iconic climbs: Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg and the Koppenberg, providing a relatively short but solid test of the Domane SLR’s capabilities.

It was on these roads that Fabian Cancellara rode the new Domane SLR to second at Sunday’s Tour of Flanders , while Spartacus claimed victory at Strade Bianche in March, in what was his first competitive outing on the bike, having once again played an important role in the Domane’s development.

Speaking of Cancellara, our test ride – and the initial impressions we formed as a result of it – comes with one important caveat. Trek will offer the Domane SLR in two geometries: Endurance and Pro Endurance, and we rode the latter. It’s the geometry used by Cancellara and his Trek-Segafredo team-mates, with a longer reach and shorter stack height – making for a more aggressive fit and having an impact on the bike’s handling, making it quicker and more responsive, while, on the flip side, the slacker Endurance geometry will bring more a more relaxed position and more sedate handling.

As it stands, the Domane SLR will initially come in five builds (three with rim brakes, two with disc brakes) and all will use the standard Endurance geometry, with the Pro Endurance geometry available only if you buy the Domane SLR Race Shop Limited frameset or use Trek’s Project One custom programme.

That aside, our test bike was equipped with a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and Bontrager’s excellent Aeolus 3 TLR tubeless-ready wheels, wrapped in 28mm Bontrager R3 tyres. Trek have significantly increased the tyre clearance on the Domane SLR. Whereas the old Domane could only take (by Trek’s recommendation) 25mm tyres, the rim brake version of the SLR comes with 28mm as standard, while disc brake models are equipped with whopping 32mm tyres. It’s a smart move, bringing (potentially) even more comfort and making best use of the bike’s versatility (there are mudguard mounts, too). Trek see the Domane SLR as a bike capable of going anywhere a gravel bike can, but with road bike handling and geometry. As an aside, if you want to go even wider, it looks like there’s room, but 28mm/32mm for rim/disc brakes is the widest Trek officially recommend.

Class-leading comfort

Based on our test ride, the (Pro Endurance) Domane SLR achieves a rare trifecta: supreme comfort, exceptional stiffness and race bike handling. The biggest compliment you can pay the Domane SLR is it offers a rare level of comfort without losing any performance edge. That, for us, is the trick with any endurance race bike; equally at home at the pinnacle of the sport in the Classics as for regular riders on the rough roads of a UK road race or sportive.

Trek say the Domane SLR’s adjustable rear IsoSpeed offers 14 per cent more comfort than the original in its lowest (most comfortable) setting, while the ride is said to be 25 per cent firmer on the highest setting. We started our first ride close to the highest setting but, even then, it was immediately evident that the Domane SLR serves up an extremely comfortable ride, particularly through the rear IsoSpeed.

The first climb we took on was the Oude Kwaremont. It’s the longest climb in the Tour of Flanders and one of the roughest, too, with the cobbles on the bottom half in particularly poor condition. Here the challenge is picking a line to avoid your front wheel dropping into one of the huge gaps between cobbles, and staying clear of the slick mud caked across the road by vehicles clearing up after the race.

When riding on the cobbles, there’s still a discernible difference in the comfort served up by the front and rear of the bike. That will always be the case – there will always be a limit as to what can be achieved at the front on rough cobbles, without affecting the handling or resorting to a suspension system. However, the Domane SLR undoubtedly softens things up – riding on the cobbles here was a significantly less jarring experience than our previous visit – and that was nicely amplified through the rear of the bike when we dropped the IsoSpeed to its lowest setting for the Paterberg and Koppenberg. The difference isn’t night and day, like switching from a road bike to a full suss mountain bike, but it is tangible and noticeable.

Even with 28mm tyres and the rear IsoSpeed on its lowest setting, the Domane SLR feels anything but sluggish zipping along in a fast group, though we need to spend more time on the Domane SLR, on a range of rides, roads and terrain, to understand the nuances of particularly settings across the range offered, and really see what effect the rear IsoSpeed’s adjustability has on stiffness and comfort.

– Related reading: What makes a Classics bike? –

The cobbles of Flanders and Roubaix are at the extreme end of what a rider’s likely to see on the Domane. They will always be uncomfortable, to a degree, and with bikes like this it’s about trying to reduce that discomfort – and the Domane SLR works very hard in taking the edge off, and is impressively effective in doing so – but it’s on more ‘regular’ roads that we began to understand just how smooth the SLR is. And by ‘regular’ we mean roads which include anything from pristine asphalt, to cycle lanes, to broken tarmac with occasional potholes and cracks in the road. We’re looking forward to seeing where the Domane’s limits are, particularly with those wider tyres fitted.

It’s a little cliché to say how an endurance bike ‘floats over the road’ but that is genuinely the best way to describe the sensation of the Domane SLR. The 28mm tyres help, of course, but it is incredibly smooth through the rear IsoSpeed, and the overall ride does feel significantly more balanced than the previous Domane. Balanced doesn’t necessarily mean equal, in terms of front and rear compliance, but there isn’t an obvious sense of detachment between the two ‘halves’ of the bike.

We still need to spend significantly more time on the Domane SLR to truly understand the benefit of the front IsoSpeed and IsoCore handlebar, and run some back-to-back testing on our local lanes, which are far from smooth. However, the times we hit cracks and bumps on the road in Flanders which would have rattled through other frames and into the rider, the SLR handled them noticeably well and stopped any jarring shocks getting through. If you want numbers then Trek say the IsoCore handlebar, which will be available as an aftermarket option from June, offers a 20 per cent improvement in compliance over a stock carbon ‘bar.

It’s also worth saying the Domane’s level of comfort may not be for everyone. The IsoSpeed technology isolates the frame from the road – it gives it that ‘floating’ feeling – but it means you don’t get much feedback from what’s going on beneath you, until things get really rough, like on cobbles. The Domane SLR goes about its business in a calm, muted manner, unlike any other bike we’ve ridden – whether that’s a good or bad thing ultimately comes down to what the rider wants from their bike.

Race bike stiffness and handling

That aside, the Domane SLR still has a genuine performance edge. Any time we were drawn into putting significant force through the pedals, whether during a short sprint or trying to bend the cranks just to keep moving on the 20 per cent gradient of the Paterberg, the frame didn’t waver, even in the ‘softest’ rear IsoSpeed setting. The Domane SLR may be built with comfort in mind, but the tube profiles, with the super-wide downtube, 90mm-wide bottom bracket shell and oversized E2 headtube, are all designed for power transfer. Cancellara didn’t seem to have any problems at Strade Bianche or the Tour of Flanders.

In its Pro Endurance geometry, the Domane SLR retains the handling of a race bike, too. It’s stable over longer stretches of cobbles but remains quick and light up front. The frame feels taut and responsive to input, whether through the legs at the bottom bracket or hands on the ‘bar. Again, that’s with the Pro Endurance geometry, but when we get a Domane SLR in for a full test it will likely come with Trek’s more relaxed Endurance geometry, so we’ll see what effect that has on the stability, handling and feel of the bike. Again, whether that’s a positive or negative effect depends on the end user, but at least Trek recognise that and offer the option of both. Some will appreciate the relaxed nature of the Endurance geometry, while others will crave the aggressive of the Pro Endurance setup.

For now, signs are positive on the Domane SLR as a truly first-class endurance bike. It’s a genuinely innovative machine and, at this early stage, one which looks to set the bar in terms of comfort. We’ll deliver a full, long term review once one arrives in the RCUK office.

Featured in this post

Related Articles

LOOK [LM]MENT jacket - review

Convertible weatherproof jacket well suited to training and racing in poor weather

Lizzie Armitstead interview: "Rio is the biggest goal of my season and career"

World champion in bullish mood as she returns to home county for Tour de Yorkshire

Simon Yates fails drugs test, team takes 'full responsibility for administrative error'

Team doctor failed to apply for Therapeutic Use Exemption for asthma inhaler, according to Orica-GreenEDGE

Cipollini Bond - review

Fast and flamboyant, just like Mario Cipollini

Tour de Yorkshire 2016: preview

The route, contenders, riders to watch and best of British at the second Tour de Yorkshire

Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions .

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

The New Trek Domane: A Great Bike Made Better

The new Domane is everything great about the old bike, plus lighter and quicker.

The Takeaway: Trek’s best road bike gets faster, lighter, quicker, and better

• Frames are 300 grams lighter
• Slight aerodynamic improvements
• Compatible with any bar and stem

Price: $3,500 (SL 5) to $13,200 (SLR 9 eTap, tested) Weight: 19.7lb. (SL 5) to 16 lb. (SLR 9) 16.8 lb. as tested (SLR 9 eTap 52cm)

Trek Domane MK.4 Gallery

Trek Domane Generation Four—What is New

My biggest knock against the third-generation Domane was the weight. It was an excellent and feature-rich bike but a little hefty. So, I am happy to report that one of the most significant changes to the fourth generation frame is it is lighter by about 300 grams (more than half a pound. A large part of the weight savings came from simplifying the bike’s signature rear IsoSpeed Decoupler and eliminating the IsoSpeed Front system that debuted in the previous generation Domane.

When asked why Trek eliminated IsoSpeed Front, Jordan Roessingh, director of road bikes, stated that much of the system's benefit—which never offered the same compliance improvement as rear IsoSpeed—was made redundant by riders' increased adoption of higher volume tubeless tires run at lower pressures. Combined with the system’s weight penalty, Trek decided the juice was not worth the squeeze and punted IsoSpeed front into the dustbin of history.

Meanwhile, at the rear, Trek removed the adjustment from the SLR’s top tube IsoSpeed. All frames now have fixed compliance. Reggie Lund, a design engineer at Trek, said that it found, “A lot of our riders were never taking advantage of the adjustability on the previous generation bike,” so they decided to remove the feature which simplified and lighted the frame. Roessingh stated that the new Domane’s fixed compliance is in line with the previous generation SLR’s IsoSpeed set to the most compliant position.

SL-level frames also see a change to their rear IsoSpeed system. Trek has multiple iterations and generations of IsoSpeed. While third-generation Domane SLR frames had adjustable top tube IsoSpeed, third-generation Domane SL frames had non-adjustable seat tube IsoSpeed. SL and SLR fourth generation Domanes get the new non-adjustable top tube IsoSpeed.

Roessingh said that one of the drawbacks of the third-gen Domane’s non-adjustable seat tube IsoSpeed was that the system got more rigid as the seat tubes got shorter. In short, smaller and likely lighter riders experienced a rougher ride than larger riders. Top tube IsoSpeed eliminates this compromise and lets Trek tune compliance per frame size, said Rosseingh, so all riders experience similar levels of comfort.

Another signature feature of carbon framed Domane models that went to the dustbin was Trek’s No Cut semi-integrated seat mast. Instead, all models now use a seat post, although a proprietary D-shaped post instead of being round. Thankfully, Trek offers two lengths (280 and 320mm) and two offsets (five and 20mm) to help riders dial in fit. The seatpost clamp hides under a snap-on cover on the top tube, which helps clean up the lines of the new Domane.

Another way Trek cleaned up the Domane’s appearance is with a new stem with a cap that hides the hoses and housing before they enter the frame through the upper headset cover. But while the bike appears to have fully integrated routing, you can swap stem lengths without pulling the hoses or housing. The bike is compatible with a standard handlebar, and riders can use standard stems. However, if you want to install a standard stem, you will need to acquire a different upper headset cover from Trek, and you will probably want to zip-tie your hoses and housing together underneath the stem.

Trek’s Domane stem comes in sizes 60 to 130mm in minus-seven degree rise and 60 to 100mm in plus-seven degree rise. The faceplate features a single bolt mount for a computer/light/camera. Unfortunately, the Domane stem’s one-bolt mounting standard is different from Trek’s one-bolt mounting system for the Madone and Emonda and also different than any of the other stems with this feature (3T, Cervelo, Fizik, Specialized, Felt, Easton).

Trek also states that the new Domane is more aerodynamic than the previous generation due to the updated shape of the fork, downtube, seat tube, seat stays, and more-integrated cables in the front. However, Trek did not provide any data on the aerodynamic improvements. When I asked Roessingh for time or watt improvements, he told me, “I don’t think we have a specific claim other than saying we do know the bike is faster. But it’s not a huge amount so it’s not a claim we’re labeling as one of the headlines of the launch.”

One small new feature added to the Domane is a mount in the top tube for a feed bag. What has not changed is the Domane has clearance for up to a 38mm tire, hidden fender mounts, the threaded (T47) bottom bracket, and the in-frame storage accessed through the hatch in the downtube.

SL and SLR frames are compatible with mechanical drivetrains. But, there is a catch outlined in Trek’s FAQ, “The frame does not have a front derailleur housing stop, which means that you are limited to front derailleurs with a built-in stop, like Shimano toggle front derailleurs.” That means the frame is not compatible with SRAM or Campagnolo mechanical-shift drivetrains.

Trek Domane Four—SL Versus SLR

There are two grades of Domane frame: SL and SLR. According to Roessingh, “SL and SLR are essentially identical from a feature set perspective and frame shape perspective.” The biggest difference is the carbon: The SL uses Trek’s “500 Series” carbon while the SLR uses “800 series” carbon. That material difference results in a 200-300 gram reduction in frame weight. According to Trek, this puts the SL frameset at 2,500 grams and the SLR frameset around 2,200 grams.

Trek Domane Four—RSL for the Racers

Although Trek’s professional racers ride a Domane in some events, typically the cobbled classics, they do not ride the standard frame. Instead, they use the Domane RSL (Race Shop Limited). It is the frame ridden to victory in the 2022 Paris-Roubaix Femmes by Elisa Longo Borghini , and it has a few notable differences from the mainline frame.

The primary distinction is fit. The RSL fame is much lower and longer than the SL and SLR Domane. Using a 56cm frame as an example the RSL’s reach is 21mm longer (395 versus 347mm) while the stack is 43mm shorter (548 versus 591mm). The RSL also has a much shorter trail length (51mm compared to 61), likely because of the increased weight the RSL’s geometry places on the front wheel.

Other changes include eliminating the top tube bag mounts and in-frame storage hatch—you do not need those things when you have a fleet of team cars behind you—and the fender mounts. These changes help shave weight off the frame compared to the standard Domane. The RSL frame also has less tire clearance—its maximum tire width is 35mm instead of 38mm—but will fit larger chainrings (RSL: 2x 54/40, 1x 54T; SLR and SL: 2x 52/36, 1x 50T) than the SL and SLR models. Another noteworthy difference: The RSL is only compatible with electronic shifting.

Trek only offers the RSL as a frameset ($4,200) and only in sizes 52 to 60cm, four fewer sizes than the mainline frame. Claimed frameset (frame and fork) weight is 1600 grams for the RSL. On paper, that makes the RSL a whopping 600 grams lighter than the SLR. But when I fact-checked that weight delta with Roessingh, he told me, “The way we measure ‘frameset” weights in those metrics isn’t apples to apples. It includes a bunch of hardware and components. The RSL frame weight is only about 100g lighter than the SLR’s.”

Trek Domane Mk.IV—Geometry

Most of the Mk. IV Domane models carry forward the Mk. III’s endurance geometry with no changes. It is a shorter reach and a taller stack fit, with a longer wheelbase and mellower handling than a race bike. Trek offers nine sizes, from 44 to 62cm.

The RSL version previously mentioned features a lower and longer fit race fit that is even more aggressive than the Madone and Emonda race bikes with the brand’s H1.5 geometry. The RSL is only offered in five sizes, from 52 to 60cm.

Trek Domane Mk.IV—Builds, Prices, and Weights

Trek’s rolling out the new Domane with 11 models: five SL builds priced between $3,500 to $7,500 and six SLR models priced at $8,000 to $13,200. Only one model, the $3,500 SL 5, has a mechanical shifting drivetrain (Shimano 105); all the rest have electronic drivetrains from Shimano and SRAM. The SL 5 is also the only 11-speed bike; the rest are 12-speed.

All models come with Bontrager tubeless-ready wheels and Bontrager’s R3 folding-bead, tubeless-ready tires in 32mm.

Claimed weights start at 8.93Kg (19.7 lb.) for the SL 5, with the lightest complete bike coming in at 7.25kg (16 lb.). One interesting note on prices and weights: For the same relative equipment level— Ultegra Di2 versus Force eTap AXS —most Shimano-equipped bikes are less expensive and lighter than the SRAM-equipped bikes. There is a big “but” because all SRAM-equipped Domanes from the SL 7 eTap and up have power meters while the Shimano builds have standard cranks. The other exception is the SL 6 ( Shimano 105 Di2 ) and SL 6 eTap ( SRAM Rival eTap AXS )—the Shimano bike is $600 cheaper but slightly (10 grams) heavier.

As always, the Domane will eventually, though not immediately, find its way into Trek’s Project One customization program for riders who want to pick their parts and paint. Trek also offers the SL ($2,499), SLR, and RSL (both $4,200) framesets for purchase.

Trek Domane Mk.IV—Ride Review

Trek’s Domane has been a favorite of mine since the first generation, but the third generation was flat-out amazing. Comfortable, practical, and fun, it had most of the speed of a race bike without the bullshit that makes race bikes so limited and limiting. It fits big tires! You could run any bar and stem! It could store a burrito in the downtube! And it was fast .

So when Trek told me they were sending me the new, fourth generation, Domane I hoped and prayed that they found a way to make it better without messing up what made it so great. And friends, my hopes and prayers were answered because riding the fourth generation Domane was like reacquainting with a dear old friend, but one who lost a bunch of weight and now goes to therapy. Because this bike is everything the gen-three Domane was, but better.

You can read what I said about the third-generation Domane when I reviewed it and when I wrote it up as our 2020 Bike of the Year and take all of the good stuff and apply it to the new, fourth-generation Domane. But my complaints about it being a little heavy are gone. And with the weight reduction, the gen-four Domane unlocks new performance levels.

The biggest difference is the new bike is quicker, snappier, and just flies. When you hear someone talk about a comfortable road bike, it usually suggests a bike that is squishy and slow feeling. But when you get on a bike that is fast, quick, and communicative but also floats and coddles the rider like a newborn baby, well, that is a special bike. And that is what the new Domane is: Special. A great bike made better. A bike for the modern road rider: Freaking fast, wonderfully comfortable, and oh so practical.

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling , Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race. 

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Member Exclusive

Nerve Flossing for Knee Pain

5 Spring Training Mistakes

Piriformis Exercises for Cyclists

Enve’s Fray Is an All-Road Race Bike

What Is Swayback Posture?

How This 64-Year-Old Keeps Riding With Gratitude

Side Plank Variations to Target the Obliques

How to Prepare for a FTP Test

8-Week Beginner Crit Training Plan

Feel Happier in 10 Minutes With These Moves

What Fruit is In Season Now?

2-FOR-1 GA TICKETS WITH OUTSIDE+

Don’t miss Thundercat, Fleet Foxes, and more at the Outside Festival.

GET TICKETS

BEST WEEK EVER

Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free.

Start Your Free Trial

Powered by Outside

2017 Trek Domane SLR: full tech details and first impressions

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Trek didn’t just launch a new bike when it debuted the Domane endurance platform in 2012; it introduced a groundbreaking way to increase rider comfort with its innovative IsoSpeed ‘decoupler’ — a mechanical pivot at the seat cluster that allows the entire seatmast and seatpost to flex much more under load than a more traditionally built frame. IsoSpeed is once again what defines the Domane but a second-generation, adjustable version has now been incorporated into the brand-new Domane SLR family along with a front version to match, creating what is quite possibly the smoothest-riding road bike on the market.

Dual IsoSpeed is twice as nice with no added weight

The original IsoSpeed concept relied on the entire seat tube to flex under bump forces but this latest Domane SLR borrows the current Madone’s twin seat tube design to separate structural and ride comfort roles. The new Domane SLR still incorporates a ‘decoupler’ at the seat cluster but whereas the original Domane’s seat tube and integrated seatmast were one continuous section, those parts are split apart on the Domane SLR and sandwiched next to each other with the smaller half behaving like a flattened leaf spring. The main seat tube is now rigidly attached to the top tube and down tube as on a conventional carbon fibre frame while the thinner, secondary seat tube is moulded as one piece with the no-cut integrated seatmast and anchored down near the bottom bracket. It’s this smaller, secondary frame section that passes through the IsoSpeed decoupler.

Quite ingeniously, you can now even tune the stiffness of that spring by sliding the spacer that separates the two seat tubes up and down. Moving it toward the bottom bracket yields the longest spring and softest spring rate; moving it up makes it progressively shorter and stiffer. According to Trek, the most comfortable setting is now 14% softer than before but the least is 25% more firm. Changing the ride quality requires just a few seconds with a 4mm hex wrench and your fingers.

While the original Domane was an impressive achievement, one of the most pointed criticisms was its somewhat disjointed ride quality: the rear end was super cushy but the front end was comparatively harsh. Rather remarkably, Trek has managed to replicate the IsoSpeed mechanism up front with a pivoting subassembly housed inside the top of the head tube that lets the steerer tube bend more on bumpy terrain. The result is a much more balanced ride on the Domane SLR.

https://youtu.be/zgADNPKolyE

“[The development of Front IsoSpeed] started very early on, even before we launched the last bike,” Trek road product manager Ben Coates told CyclingTips. “We consistently felt and heard that the rear end was so good that it made the front end feel noticeably different. But in that compliment was an opportunity that we couldn’t get out of our minds.  As we were racking our brains how to balance out the ride, some product manager just kept saying, ‘I don’t understand why you can’t just take that from the back and put it in the front.’ After a few months, a couple of our engineers got together and had an a-ha moment.”

Although the Front IsoSpeed concept sounds radical, keep in mind this isn’t the first time Trek has dabbled with tuned-in steerer tube flex. Previous-generation Madones and Domanes already use steerer tubes that are flattened on their front and rear sides to help them bend a bit under load but Trek says the new Front IsoSpeed mechanism adds another 5-10% more vertical movement at the bars (depending on stem length and rider hand position) than the current Domane. The thought of a steerer tube repeatedly bending over time may give some riders pause — let alone a system that actually encourages the movement. But if you think about it, the Front IsoSpeed mechanism may let the steerer bend more than before but it’s a larger-radius bend with less concentrated stress. In other words, the addition of IsoSpeed should actually improve the fatigue life of the fork, not shorten it.

“All of our forks, including the new Domane fork, go through the same extensive testing — testing that goes above and beyond industry and governmental standards,” Coates said. “Your suspicions are correct, though. Because we are able to reduce point load at the upper headset bearing, we do actually have a better structural design for the bearing/steerer tube interface. This allows us to reduce weight.”

Speaking of weight, all of that additional aluminium and steel hardware is obviously heavier than an equivalent all-carbon head tube but Trek claims that design efficiencies in other locations on the Domane SLR more than cancels that out. In fact, claimed frame weight is an impressive 950g for an unpainted 56cm sample – 100g lighter than the original Domane – plus 330g for the matching fork. Coates says paint will add 5-200g depending on the finish, and both the disc and rim brake versions are virtually identical on the scale.

Further balancing out the ride is the new IsoCore handlebar, which utilises a layer of rubber inside the carbon fibre lay-up. Trek claims the additional rubber layer produces 20% more movement at the hoods under load than a conventional all-carbon bar — or 24% more than an aluminium one — while still weighing posting a reasonable weight of 236-267g, depending on size.

Tire clearance gets a big boost, too. Whereas the previous Domane was only approved for 25mm-wide tyres across the board, rim brake-equipped Domane SLR models will now officially swallow 28mm ones while the Domane SLR Disc gains another 4mm of room on top of that. Bear in mind that those limits are based on government-mandated regulatory clearances and riders who are willing to take a bit more risk (and don’t plan on trudging through the mud) will likely find space for even higher-volume rubber. For example, some cyclocross knobbies will physically pass through the fork blades and stays but without any wiggle room for debris or a wheel that falls out of true so it’s not something I recommend trying.

Other new features on the Domane SLR include a removable ‘Control Center’ access panel in the down tube to house the battery on Shimano Di2-equipped models, flat-mount calliper interfaces on disc brake-equipped versions, and direct-mount callipers on bikes with rim brakes. Disc-equipped bikes also move to 12mm-diameter thru-axles front and rear while bikes with rim brakes stick with quick-release open dropouts.

Key traits from the original Domane carry over unchanged, including the relatively upright rider positioning, ultra-stable handling, hidden fender mounts, integrated chain catcher, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in tapered steerer tube, and BB90 bottom bracket shell with direct press-fit bearings.

Trek will offer the new Domane SLR in five complete bikes to start — two with disc brakes and three with rim brakes — plus one rim and one disc frameset, all with the standard Endurance geometry and a generous size range from 44-62cm. There will also be a team-replica Domane SLR Race Shop Limited edition with a more aggressive ‘Pro Endurance’ geometry that features a longer reach, shorter stack, and quicker handling, plus a more upscale 700-Series OCLV carbon fibre will also be available. Those will only be offered in 54-62cm sizes, however, since the Trek Segafredo team doesn’t have anyone of smaller statures on its classics squad. Both geometries will be offered through Trek’s Project One custom program (albeit only with rim brakes to start).

Prices and key component specs are as follows:

Domane SLR 9 eTap (US$11,000 / AU$12,999 / £7,600)

• OCLV 600-Series frame and fork
• SRAM Red eTap groupset
• Bontrager Aeolus 3 D3 TLR wheelset

Domane SLR 7 Disc (US$6,500 / AU$n/a / £4,800)

• Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain
• Shimano R785 levers and brakes
• Bontrager Affinity Comp wheelset

Domane SLR 7 (US$6,000 / AU$6,800 / £4,400)

• Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset
• Bontrager direct-mount brakes
• Bontrager Paradigm Comp wheelset

Domane SLR 6 Disc (US$5,500 / AU$6,300 / £4,000)

• Shimano Ultegra 6800 drivetrain
• Shimano R685 levers and brakes

Domane SLR 6 (US$5,000 / AU$5,800 / £3,600)

• Shimano Ultegra 6800 groupset

Domane SLR Race Shop Limited frameset (US$TBC / AU$TBC / £TBC)

• OCLV 700-Series frame and fork

Domane SLR frameset (US$3,000 / AU$n/a / £2,400)

Domane SLR Disc frameset (US$3,000 / AU$n/a / £2,550)

First impressions: Riding the new Domane SLR 7 Disc

Trek may have only officially launched its new bike in Belgium today but I received an early-production Domane SLR 7 Disc — the top-end disc-equipped version — several days prior to test on home soil. I mean that in the literal sense, too, seeing as how my sample has thus far spent plenty of time on pavement but even more time on the endless expanse of unpaved roads surrounding my Boulder, Colorado home base in order to better gauge the bike’s ride quality.

To simply say that the new Domane SLR is ‘smooth’ would be to do a gross disservice both to what Trek has achieved here and to anyone searching for the holy grail of comfort. Whereas many endurance bikes aim to reduce vibration, the Domane SLR’s ace in the hole is bona fide movement at the contact points — and a lot of it. In fact, it’s the closest thing to a full-suspension road bike currently available. It’s not just smooth; in the most comfortable setting, the frame is freakishly, otherworldly, and almost alarmingly calm and composed in how it utterly levels the ground beneath you. If you think this assessment borders on sycophantic, then so be it; but do yourself the courtesy of riding one first.

Even better, the ride quality is far more balanced than the previous Domane could ever hope to be. Granted, the combination of the radical Front IsoSpeed and the surprisingly effective IsoCore handlebar still doesn’t equal the softness of the rear end but it’s a much better match than it used to be. Pavement cracks are seen but never felt and front-end impacts are met with little more than a dull thud through your hands; coarse road texture feels like polished granite. Since the Front IsoSpeed’s pivot axis is mechanically limited, there’s no out-of-plane vagueness when arcing through corners or when torquing the bars during climbs and sprints, either.

As before, there’s negligible bounciness from the pseudo-suspended rear end in most situations but it is possible to generate an odd oscillation at times – especially if you have a particularly ‘square’ pedal stroke or your position requires a lot of saddle setback. That said, I didn’t have any issues with it (nor did I with the previous version, either).

The adjustability of the rear IsoSpeed is tangibly effective. In its softest position, the Domane SLR decimates washboarded dirt country paths and poorly maintained pavement; in the firmest, it feels much like any other high-end carbon endurance frame. That said, anyone buying a Domane is almost certainly going to be drawn to the bike’s comfort so my suspicion is that most will gravitate toward the cushier end of the spectrum. For reference, Fabian Cancellara opted for the second-softest setting when he rode the new Domane SLR to victory at last month’s Strade Bianche and at this year’s Tour of Flanders.

Even better, the Domane SLR’s superb comfort doesn’t come at the expense of traditional performance metrics on smoother surfaces, either. As already mentioned, the frame is competitively light but since the bike’s ride quality is baked in with mechanical solutions, there’s no need to engineer much flex into the tubes themselves. As a result, the main frame and chainstays use enormous cross-section throughout and the chassis is amply stiff and efficient when sprinting or climbing out of the saddle.

That Trek has managed to build a phenomenally comfortable road bike isn’t in question but whether you actually like the feel may be. Whereas even the most heavily damped composite road frames still tend to transmit a fair bit of information on what’s happening at the tyre contact patches, the Domane SLR delivers a highly muted sensation throughout. I’ve little doubt that I was able to ride faster on rough sections of road than I would on a more unyielding frameset but the ride can be so thoroughly isolating at times that you could be forgiven for thinking there was something missing in the experience.

Geometry-wise, Trek has carried over intact the original Domane’s figures for this more upscale Domane SLR version and that may be a love-it-or-hate-it proposition as well. As compared to Trek’s more agile Madone and Emonda platforms, the Domane geometry is markedly longer, lower, and slacker with a bottom bracket that’s 10mm closer to the ground, a rear wheel more than a centimetre further behind you than typical race bikes, and a wheelbase that’s a whopping 3-4cm rangier from axle to axle. The front end is also 1-2 degrees slacker and rises up 4-5cm taller for a substantially more relaxed riding posture.

As a result, the Domane is ultra-stable but also slow to initiate turns, requiring a concerted lean to get the front end aimed at tight apexes. The unusual geometry also yields a feeling of sitting ‘in’ the bike rather than ‘on’ it — something not everyone will agree with. In fairness, the Domane isn’t about winning criteriums; it’s about gobbling up long stretches of road in comfort and the fact that it’s Trek’s best-selling road platform speaks volumes about how well that attitude appeals to the masses.

As for the component particulars of this Domane SLR 7 Disc edition, there’s not much to complain about. The stock 32mm-wide Bontrager tyres only further accentuate the smooth-riding chassis, and the wide-range 50/34T chainrings and 11-32T cassette on the Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain play well with the bike’s versatility. Shimano sadly hasn’t squelched the incessant rattling and clunking in its hydraulic Dual Control levers, though, and while the Bontrager Affinity Comp aluminium clincher wheels are tubeless-compatible, the stock tyres are not.

Actual weight for my 52cm sample is 8.31kg (18.32lb) without pedals — quite a reasonable figure given the front and rear pseudo-suspension, disc brakes, and fat tyres.

Overall, it’s so far, so good but I’ll have a more in-depth review later after I’m able to log some more significant mileage.

Trek Domane SLR models and performance data

Disclosure: Trek is an advertiser with CyclingTips and we would like to thank them for providing this early demo for review.

Popular on Velo

What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France? Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view.

Related content from the Outside Network

One way south, mountain bikers react to their first taste of non-alcoholic craft beer, video review: bmc urs 01 two gravel bike, kiel reijnen vuelta video diary: the painful decision to abandon.

Project Pawsitivity

A Sitting For a Cause Blog Featuring All Things Pet-Related

Subway Strays: The Dogs of Moscow’s Metro

Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, the stray dogs in Moscow have a surprisingly well-documented history which animal behaviorists have been paying close attention to for several decades. During the Soviet period in Russia the packs of wild (or stray) dogs in were regulated. Only the clever canines who learned to stay in isolation were able to survive. Usually, these dogs would remain on the outskirts of the city hunting in wild packs, as the living in the city was dangerous and food scarce.  After the fall of the Soviet Union quality of life in Russia began to slowly improve and with it more street vendors and food collecting in busy neighborhoods. This began to bring some the stray dogs out of the suburbs into the city.

Today, there are nearly 35,000 stray dogs that call Moscow home. Out of these 35,000 stray dogs there are about 500 that have taken to living underground. Out of these dogs, there are a few that have started thinking outside the box and inside the boxcar. They have begun the slow move underground to stay out of the cold (Russian winters reach an average of -5 degrees every day). Many of the Russian commuters embraced the dog’s underground migration by petting them or giving them food.

Though these claims may seem like the made up type of internet misinformation that we have learned to be skeptical of these days, it is actually sourced to a Russian biologist by the name of  Dr. Andrey Poyarkov , a highly regarded scientist in his field of study. As it turns out Poyarkov has been studying these dogs for the last thirty years and told news sources back in 2010 that he suspected a small fraction of these underground dogs had actually learned to use the subway in order to beg for food in bustling urban areas where food is more plentiful.

Andrei Neuronov , an animal behaviorist, says much like you train your dogs at home to respond to verbal commands like “sit” or “stay,” the Moscow metro dogs are using audio cues from the subway stops they have learned. The dogs memorize the names of the stops to navigate the subway systems in order to take them to heavily populated places during the day and get food.  Then, they return to their more secluded corners of the suburbs at night where they are less likely to be bothered by people.  Here is a story ABC did back in 2011, talking about this very thing.

Do you have any information on how to help these dogs?  Please share and comment below.

• Hispanoamérica
• Work at ArchDaily
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy

NagatinSky / Alexey Rozenberg

• Architects: Alexey Rozenberg
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  136 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   CIR SERENISSIMA , Centrsvet , EXENIA , Foscarini , Innovation Living , +2 Linea Light Group , NATUZZI -2

Sberbank Office / IND Architects

• Architects: IND Architects
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  7000 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   Covering Chile , Milliken , Russkiy Nestandart , Statio

Orange Business Services Office / T+T Architects

• Architects: T+T Architects
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  5300 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   Desso , Fagerhult , Haworth
• Professionals: PRIDEX Group

35m2 Flat / Studio Bazi

• Architects: Studio Bazi
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  35 m²
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2015
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   EGGER , Schneider Electric , Bayker , Gorenje
• Professionals: Studio Bazi

Living Space / Ruetemple

• Architects: Ruetemple
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  48 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   FAKRO , Centrsvet , Sofia

Adidas Home Of Sport / ABD architects

• Architects: ABD architects
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  20000 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   Lightnet , Nayada , Shaw
• Professionals: PRIDEX Group , RBTT Consultants

Hires Apartment Renovation / buro5

• Architects: buro5
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  105 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   BoConcept , Grohe , Arbonia Solutions , Coswick Parket , Ikea , +2 LIGHT-POINT , clinker stroeher -2

Gazeta.ru News Agency Office / Nefa Architects

• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  600 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   Vibia , Artemide , BONALDO , Flos , Linea Light Group , +7 Loft , Planlicht , Prooff , Roche Bobois , SVL , Tolix , Vitra -7
• Professionals: Shafran

Gorki / Ruetemple

• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  47 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   Ambient Lounge , Boskke sky planter , Ceramica Fondovalle , Foscarini , Ikea , +1 imex -1

Apply to the Strelka Institute: New Educational Programme Launched

The Strelka Institute for Architecture, Media and Design has launched the enrollment campaign for the postgraduate education program. The theme of the 7th academic year at Strelka is entitled  The New Normal . Research will focus on the new contemporary condition, which has emerged because of the rapid development of technology—including machine intelligence, biotechnology, automation, alternative spaces created in VR and AR—and define new paths for urban design and development.

This Moscow Circus School Proposal is Composed of a Series of Domes and Undulating Waves

A team comprised of Chinese architects Hang Guo and Shanshan Li have used the history of theatre and circus to drive their proposal for a new Moscow Circus School. The design, dubbed Dome and Circus , was developed for the recent Architectural Competition Concours d'Architecture (AC-CA) competition , which encouraged participants to consider the ways in which their design could generate discussion about the relationship between architecture and culture.

Crushpro / FORM Bureau

• Architects: FORM Bureau
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  290 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   Forbo Flooring Systems , Fun-era , Helios , Kerama Marazzi , Varton

Apartment W_G+BETON / ARCH.625

• Architects: ARCH.625 : ARCH.625
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  230 m²
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   ETHNICRAFT , Miele , ABB , BANG & OLUFSEN , BONALDO , +5 Blum , Josef Göbel , SEAMEN , Vitra , XAL -5

Swimming Pool in Luzhniki / Ka-Buro

• Architects: Ka-Buro
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  520 m²
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2014

MCFO Awards 2016: Call For Submissions

On the 1st of July Moscow Construction and Fit-out Association, MCFO opens online submission for MCFO Awards, which defines excellence in office space in Moscow. Entries can be submitted by any member of a project team through  www.mcfo-awards.com.

Strelka Institute Launches Scholarships for New Master’s Programme

Moscow's Strelka Institute has launched a series scholarships that will cover expenses for its first joint master’s programme with the HSE Graduate School of Urbanism, called ‘ Advanced Urban Design ’. Three scholarships will be granted to remarkable emerging leaders in the spheres of urban design and research to fully pursue a two-year study.

Office of RD Construction Company / IND Architects

• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  2200 m²

• Domane+ SLR 6 Pro

Lana Del Rey’s Opulence, Peso Pluma’s Corrido History Lesson Shine at Coachella Day One

Coachella 2024 kicked off Friday, and festival season is officially upon us once again.

With over 100,000 festival goers in the desert for this weekend’s debut, Day One was a stacked opening, with Lana Del Rey bringing out Billie Eilish for a duet, Shakira shocking the crowd and announcing a world tour during Bizarrap’s set, and Peso Pluma putting corridos on the world stage. 

If Euphoria core influenced Coachella’s fashion in years past, 2024 has now gone cosmic cowboy as the silver boots and cowboy hats took over the festival grounds. Blame Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter . Blame Del Rey’s upcoming Lasso album (which she didn’t hint at during her set!) but Coachella’s crowd was an intergalactic saloon.

The weekend is off to a good start. Here are some of our favorite things we saw at Coachella Day One:

Narcocorridos have always existed. Accept it

The voice of Morgan Freeman helped Peso Pluma tell the history of corridos during Peso Pluma’s electric set on the main stage.

Peso laced some of his hits like “Nueva Vida” and Rosa Patel” with interludes of news broadcasts and paper clippings speaking of the existence and villainization of corridos about the narco lifestyle. “Peso Pluma and the debate over narco culture,” read one headline. Peso seemed to play into the criticism he’s received early in his set, playing tracks “El Gavilán,” “El Azul,” and “PRC,” which all mention an affinity for cartel boss El Chapo Guzmán. 

Editor’s picks

The 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history, every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term.

Peso also brought out his friends Santa Fe Klan for “No Son Klle” during a reggaeton and hip-hop-leaning portion of his set, Junior H for “El Azul,” and Becky G early in his set for “Chanel,” thanking her for believing in him early in his journey.

The only thing missing? Rolling Stone ’s No. 1 song of 2023: “Ella Baila Sola.” Is he saving it for an appearance from Eslabón Armado next weekend? We sure hope so. – T.M.

Lana Del Rey’s headlining set felt like a celebration of the singer’s impact on the world. Just ask Billie Eilish: “[She] is the reason for half of you bitches’ existence, including mine.”

It was clear Friday night — as fans adorned their hair in bows and Del Rey merch — how much of an impact Del Rey has had on culture overall and on the individual lives of the people watching her in the crowd. Fans wiped away tears as she performed songs “Without You” for the first time since 2014 and “West Coast” for the first time since 2019. And what better way to bring in the nostalgia than coming onto the stage while riding on the back of a motorcycle? For a second, it was 2012 all over again.

Kesha and Reneé Rapp Change ‘Tik Tok’ Lyric to ‘F-ck P Diddy’ at Coachella

See sky ferreira cover lady a's 'need you now' during surprise coachella appearance, latin mafia made it big without a label or album. now they're getting ready to play coachella.

At one point, Jon Batiste sat at the piano for an extended version of “Candy Necklace” as the two artists riffed on each other for the sweetest, most human moment of the set. Throughout, Del Rey felt like a Hollywood starlet too holy to even touch. “Is she real?” asked one person in the crowd. At one point, she wasn’t: Jack Antonoff made an appearance to play piano for a holographic version of Del Rey. We were born to die, but at Lana’s set we were living. – T.M.

Never Checking Out of Sabrina’s Motel

Sabrina Carpenter took it back to the Eighties with a gorgeous blue, Bates Motel-inspired set design.

She descended on the main stage in a giant heart and incorporated retro interludes of news anchors announcing the weather for “Tornado Warnings” and infomercials before presenting “Because I Liked a Boy” where she came out of one of the motel rooms on a giant red bed.

“There’s so much dust in my throat, if I hit a flat note that’s why. I promise I’m a good singer,” she joked onstage. (Her voice slayed, though there was a tiny hiccup during a piano set.)

She also debuted “Espresso,” and its line “I’m working late ’cause I’m a singer. Oh, he looks so cute wrapped around my finger” came to life as Barry Keoghan danced around and waved as Carpenter flashed him a smile.

Carpenter gorgeously interpolated the Cardigans’ “Lovefool” with “Feather” and, of course, a custom new outro for “Nonsense” as she rocked a “Jesus Was a Carpenter” t-shirt, referring to her iconic response when asked about filming the video for the song at a catholic church.

“All about the balls I’m Cinderella. Only use my mouth that’s acapella. I’m so glad you came for me Coachella,” she sang. – T.M.

Lil Uzi’s Rapid-Fire Pace

“High everybody,” Uzi, who uses they/them pronouns, said cheekily, standing high above the crowd on a platform as they lept right into “Suicide Doors” to start the concert. From then on, there were few moments they would sit still. Uzi and his dancers sprinted from one side of the stage to the next. They squirmed on their back as they sang vocals before jumping right back on his feet, removing their white shirt and showing off his ornate gold and diamond necklace and Chanel belt. “Coachellllla,” they screamed as he performed “Pop.”

Between the high-energy outbursts, Uzi was jester-like, promising the crowd they were ready to reveal a really important secret before saying it was that they loved them. At another point, Uzi told their grandmother watching the livestream to go to bed. 

“I just feel like I look better than I ever idd in my fucking life. Not only do I look good, I smell good and my bank account is looking better,” Uzi said before jumping into the hit “Money Longer.”

Uzi kept it relatively straightforward with some dancers and lights, no new track teases or special guests this time. Running mainly through Pink Tape and Luv Is Rage 2 songs, Uzi wrapped the set with “XO Tour Llif3” and “Just Wanna Rock.” — E.M. 

Shakira Should’ve Headlined Coachella

“You asked for guests at Coachella,” Bizarrap told the crowd. “Look who I brought you.”

Bizarrap over-delivered as he welcomed Shakira for a two-song performance — of “La Fuerte” and their Music Session — that ended with an announcement that she’ll be heading on tour later this year — and kicking it off at the Coachella Valley.

“Today, I can’t contain myself. I have news for you. Biza, I’m going on tour!” she told the crowd as the words “Shakira Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour” showed up on screen. “Finally, we’re going on tour.”

Elsewhere in Biza’s set, he delivered some of his biggest collaborations, including his Nathy Peluso song — backed by a white robot visual — and his songs with Eladio Carrion and Milo J. He also flashed some clown and circus visuals during his Residente track. – T.M.

The Femininomenon Herself

“I’m pretty sure she invented gay,” joked one person in the crowd. (Can confirm: She did.)

Chappell Roan hadn’t yet hit the stage and the Gobi tent was already overflowing with gays and girlies. (Coachella, fix it next week.) Dressed in a Betsey Johnson suit and holding a retro phone, Roan walked on stage for “Femininomenon,” channeling Eighties pop star energy realness.

It seemed, as the audience held up pink cowboy hats and bandanas, that the vast majority of the crowd made it a priority to see the star, who later returned on stage in a bodysuit with the word “EAT ME” on her chest and cheetah-print tights. She led fans in choreo to “Hot to Go!” before debuting “Good Luck, Babe!” live. (Many in the crowd knew it.)

It was a Gobi tent celebration of queerness — even if folks trickled out early to rush to Sabrina Carpenter. – T.M.

It’s Brittany (Howard), Bitch

Brittany Howard is a rockstar, full stop. She shouts and yelps, easily switching between deep bellowing notes and a piercing falsetto. During her impressive early evening set on the Gobi stage, dawned in a shiny sequined dress beside her eight-piece band, Howard powered through her 45-minute set weaving funk, soul, rock and blues. She kept it strictly to solo material, shredding a solo on “Earth Sign,” strutting on “Prove It to You,” and delivering her spoken word testimony on loving those around you on “13th Century Metal.”  — E.M. 

Trapped in Faye’s Web

Categorizing Faye Webster ’s music isn’t easy when going through her discography, and it’s not much easier at her live shows either, as she seamlessly weaves between pedal-steel laden folk and indie rock to ethereal dream pop to cosmic country. 

Webster seldom stopped for chit-chat, taking only a brief break in the middle and end of her set to say hello and introduce her impressive backing band. 

Rolling Stone’s Angie Martoccio wrote in a profile on Webster last month that any anonymity Webster has in public when she’s off stage “isn’t likely to last that much longer.” If her Coachella crowd’s screaming reactions to “Thinking About You,” “In A Good Way” and “Kingston” are any indication, she couldn’t be more right. — E.M.

Puerto Rican Power

The sun was still blazing as Young Miko took the main stage, but the Puerto Rican star seemed to shine brighter. 

Surrounding the star as she performed hits like “Riri” and “Chulo Pt. 2,” was a massive silver boombox, adorned with a giant heart. The singer also debuted several tracks from her new album attn , including “Fuck TMZ” and “Princess Peach.” 

For “Arcoiris,” she was surrounded by rainbow visuals and video game-esque visuals. She also performed her verses from her songs with other stars like Bad Bunny’s “Fina” and Tainy’s “Colmillo.”

It was a big moment for Miko, who told Rolling Stone in the Future of Music that Coachella was on her bucket list and she “didn’t expect” it to come so fast. Miko sure delivered. – T.M.

A New Pyramid in the Desert

EDM continues to take over Coachella, and now, in one of the biggest changes the festival has seen in years, Coachella just opened a new stage for showcasing DJs. The Quasar stage looks like a cross between an ancient pyramid and a spaceship, featuring a distinct angular design and intricate lights lined up across the entire stage. Whereas most of Coachella’s stages are hosting 30-minute to hour-long sets, Quasar’s go on for hours. 

Hatsune Miku’s Virtual Reality  

O.j. simpson executor says ron goldman's family will get 'zero, nothing' from estate, drake responds to rick ross' nose job claim, warns rapper after diss, 'don't worry we'll handle it', o.j. simpson executor clarifies stance on goldmans receiving money from estate, drake’s response track to kendrick lamar appears to have leaked.

The show featured a live, real-life band alongside the virtually animated Miku, a blue-haired 16-year-old who was presented on an LED screen in the middle of the stage. The right light creates an optical illusion that the avatar is actually there, not dissimilar to the hologram tours of Whitney Houston and Roy Orbison that had launched before the pandemic.

She drew a serious crowd at the Mojave tent, plenty of whom serious fans screaming at the start of each song, others who seemed much newer to Miku’s sets, but certainly intrigued at what they saw. — E.M.

Andrew Watt Waited His Entire Life to Produce Pearl Jam's New Album 'Dark Matter'

• Given to Fly
• By Andy Greene

Tems Brings 'Essence' to Coachella With Special Appearances From Wizkid and Justin Bieber

• How We Connect
• By Larisha Paul

Doja Cat Skips the Pop Megahits in Edgy Coachella Performance

• Coachella 2024
• By Suzy Exposito and Brittany Spanos

J Balvin Welcomes Will Smith (and an Alien Invasion) at Coachella

• By Tomás Mier and Suzy Exposito
• By Althea Legaspi

Most Popular

Alan menken, sarah sherman, alex winter and larry charles join jewish creatives supporting jonathan glazer’s oscars speech in open letter (exclusive), francis ford coppola's ‘megalopolis’ faces uphill battle for mega deal: “just no way to position this movie", michael douglas is the latest actor to make controversial remarks about intimacy coordinators, dave chappelle says dinner with kanye west and "naked" bianca censori was "uncomfortable", you might also like, cannes critics’ week unveils 2024 lineup, coach’s latest tabby bag drop makes this blooming ’90s trend look fresh as a daisy for cool-girl spring style, the best running water bottles according to marathoners, adobe generative ai video tools are coming to premiere pro, a worrywart’s guide to the 2024 paris olympics.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

Click Here For More City Street Guides!

(A New Guide Posted Every Other Wednesday)

Comment Here! Cancel reply

For patreon exclusive educational content:.

Limited Edition Postcard Prints!

Street Photography Workshops

Donations Always Appreciated

I'll always keep Shooter Files free for everyone, but any donations would be greatly appreciated and help me keep it going. Many thanks to everyone following along!

Cheers! -f.d. walker

Search the Files

For Exclusive Patron Content:

• Rider Notes

2016 Trek Domane 6.2 Disc Compact

A carbon frame endurance bike with high-end components and hydraulic disc brakes.

For This Bike

View more similar bikes →

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Domane 6.2 Disc Compact

Similar Bikes

(descending)

Add custom gearing

5'1" – 5'5"

5'3" – 5'7"

5'5" – 5'9"

5'7" – 6'0"

5'10" – 6'2"

6'0" – 6'4"

6'2" – 6'5"

🐐 Estimated

Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes. Report your fit

Feb 2024 · road.cc Tech

With Classics season upon us, let’s take a look back at the high-tech bike that Spartacus rode in his final race season, with rim brakes and mechanical shifting

Read Review

May 2017 · William Tracy

Trek's Domane crushes cobbles, sure. But on smooth blacktop it’s just as capable.

Apr 2017 · Marc Abbott

Trek's fat-tyred cobble-tamer has all the ingredients you need for a happy sportive experience

Oct 2016 · Henry Robertshaw

Slider down the side of seat tube lets you alter the ride quality

Incredibly versatile

Comfortable on long rides

Great power transfer

Excellent wheels

Tyres cut easily

No adjustability on lower models

Sep 2016 · Ben Delaney

Extreme comfort, efficiency, Di2 shifting or hydraulic braking — pick four. Buy if you want the best endurance road bike on the market

A super-plush ride that doesn’t handle like a boat

Di2 shifting

Excellent Shimano hydraulic braking

Adjustable rear IsoSpeed

Tubeless-ready wheels and huge clinchers

It’s not light or cheap!

Mar 2015 · Matt Phillips

It's not perfect—just spectacular

As far as I’m aware, this is the first time I’ve ever been sent a bike for review that was originally purpose built for a pro race team. Right down to the frame sizing, the Trek Domane Classics edition is the same frame that was under the mighty Cancellara as he tackled the cobbles. As …

Nov 2014 · R BA

Joining the disc crowd, Trek forges their own path.

Last updated June 29 Not listed for 2,480 days